Niagara Leader

Oswego, New York—Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) introduced the Improving Coordination for the Northern Border Act to mandate the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish the Northern Border Coordination Center. This initiative aims to enhance the implementation and coordination of the Northern Border Strategy, encompassing training, information sharing, intelligence, and collaboration with federal, state, Tribal, local, and international government partners.

Tenney spearheaded this bill alongside Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01).

The proposed legislation requires DHS to set up the Northern Border Coordination Center at an existing U.S. Border Patrol sector headquarters. The center would be collocated with a U.S. Border Patrol Northern Border Coordination Center, an Air and Marine Operations Branch, and a U.S. Coast Guard air station. It aims to support the implementation of the Northern Border Security Strategy by tracking security metrics along the border and serving as a training location for DHS personnel. Additionally, it will function as a testing ground for new border security technologies. The bill also mandates that Air and Marine Operations maintain quick reaction capabilities at the center to address rising threats such as illegal cross-border drone activity.

“There has been an unprecedented spike in illegal crossings at our Northern Border, including an 846% increase in one sector alone, putting our national security and community safety at risk,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Additionally, 85% of suspected terrorists that have illegally crossed our borders have done so over the Northern Border. By establishing a Northern Border Coordination Center, we can enable the Department of Homeland Security to effectively implement the Northern Border Strategy to enhance training and information sharing among federal, state, local, and international partners and secure our Northern Border to help keep our Northern Border communities safe."

“Strengthening operations at our northern border is critical to drug interdiction efforts and keeping dangerous substances out of our communities,” said Congressman Pappas. “The Coordination Center will provide a central hub for implementing the Northern Border Strategy, including enforcing our immigration laws and stemming illicit drug trafficking while supporting coordination efforts between U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, local law enforcement, and other partners. I thank Representative Tenney for partnering with me on this bill, and I will continue fighting to pass legislation that supports and invests in border security.”